Railway tie puller



Feb. 9, 1937. E. c. NEAL 2,069,769

RAILWAY TIE FULLER Filed Maya, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T1 gl Z I t 29 n "1/; J 431 22 /8 I /4 1 3 ERNEsT-C. NEAL ATTO NE Y Feb. 9; 1937. E. c. NEAL RAILWAY TIE FULLER I Filed May 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Shet 2 2 l-i l I 205 45 ERNEST C. NEAL Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES ATET OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tie puller.

The essential feature of the invention is the provision of an improved means for pulling a railroad tie from beneath rails that it supports, without the necessity for excavating around the tie to facilitate either its withdrawal or to permit of the application and use of the herein described device.

The objects of the invention include, among others, the provision of the following:

A simplified, convenient, readily operable device which may be anchored over the body of a tie and operated to move such tie longitudinally from a road bed so that the removed tie may be replaced by another tie without disturbing the contour and compactness of the road bed ballast.

An improved device which, for purposes of operation, may be laid directly upon a tie and anchored against the base of a rail with the excavation of a minimum amount of ballast, and which is effective for the purpose of moving the tie transversely of the rail without seriously affecting the contour of the ballast beneath and at the sides of the withdrawn tie.

A new, improved, and simplified apparatus which may be conveniently handled by a section hand and with which the section hand may withdraw from a road bed ties one at a time with great rapidity and with a minimum of physical effort.

These objects, and others which will hereafter appear, are obtained by the novel arrangement, combination and construction of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Several embodiments of the invention are i1- lustrated in devices shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, hereby made a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the same device on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan View of a modified form of device embodying the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan View of another modified form of device embodying the invention;

Figure 6 is a longitudinalsection of the device of Figure 4 taken on the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is a slightly enlarged edge view of one of the toothed wheels. I

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the following description.

Basically, the present invention relates to a device that may be placed upon a tie forming a part of a railroad bed, and wedged against one of the rails to withdraw such tie. Toothed wheels or their equivalents are in position over the tie to be'withdrawn and in contact with the tie top. The toothed wheels are suitably rotated. The teeth on the wheels dig into the tie, pulling the tie from under the rails as the toothed wheels are rotated.

The foundation of the device is a substantially U-shaped frame I. Two arms 2 and 3 of the frame are separated by a'distance'suificient to allow them to straddle a tie.

The toe or end of each arm is shaped to fit against base of a rail. An extension 2a is adapted to fit under the base of a rail 34. A notch 6 receives the opposite sides of the base of such rail. A nose piece 1 may press against the web of the rail but generally the nose is spaced from the web of the rail. The under face of the notch 6 is oblique (see Figures 3 and 6). The upper face of the notch 6 is adapted to impinge upon the top face of the base of rail 34, the notch being wedged upon such base and maintaining the nose I away from the Web of the rail. On a few rails where the base is shallow and narrow the nose 1 may contact the web but this is not usual.

The arms 2 and 3 support a shaft 9. One end of shaft 9 is journalled directly in arm 3. A bushing I0 is set into arm 2 and held in place by bolts or screws Ito and provides a journal for the other end of shaft 9. Within the journals shaft 9 is rounded. Between the arms 2 and 3 and journals, the shaft 9 may be square to receive nonrotatively thereon the tie pulling part or parts. These parts may comprise a series of toothed wheels I! and a ratchet wheel l5. They may be a toothed cylinder, if preferred.

The toothed wheels II have teeth Ha which are all slanted in the same direction relative. to the rotation of the wheels ll. tooth are cut to a slant as at l2 and I3 so that the points of the teeth are narrower than the wheel H. Each tooth is provided with abroad, flat front face M which slants forwardly with respect to the rotation of the wheel.

Each wheel has an aperture of the same shape and size as the cross section of the square section of the shaft Sand is adapted to fit onto the shaft. The apertures on adjacent wheels are set differently with respect to the teeth Ila so The sides of each V aperture the same as the toothed wheels II. In

that the teeth on adjacent wheels are staggered with respect to one another. I

A ratchet wheel I5 is provided with a center four in each group. Such number of toothed wheels I I may be varied to suit any particular case. a V

A recess I8a is provided in the rear of the frame I to receive a handle socket member I8. Socket member I8 is bifurcated at its lower end and is pivoted on a shaft I9. Two pawls 20 and 2| are mounted between the bifurcations and are adapted to cooperate with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I5. Pawl' 20 is pivoted to the socket member I8 by a pin 22 and pawl 2I is similarly fastened-by a pin 23. 1 V

'Pivot 22 for pawl 20 is placed away from shaft I9 towards the handle end of the-socket member I8. Pivot'23 for pawl 2I is placed between the shaft I9 and the ratchet wheel'I5-. Socket member I8 is for a handle 3I to provide leverage for.

operating the toothed wheels II.

Two hand holes 29 and 30 in the frame I near its lower cornersprovide for hand grips intransporting the device and in handlingit in. use.

" Where so :desired the bifurcated portion of socket member I8 maybe-strengthened by plac ing tie rivetsor bolts 32 below the, pivot I9, as indicated in Figure 3. V 7

'Reference will now be had to Figure 4. The reference characters therein generally comprise the same as in Figures 1, 2; and 3 save that I00 is added thereto. 1 I

In place of a single ratchetiwheel IS, two ratchet wheels IIS and I I! are used, one at each side of a group of toothed wheels H I. Ratchet wheels 6- and II! are narrower than wheel I5 of the earlier described device but otherwiseare substantially the same. In place of the pawls 20 and 2|, bifurcated pawls I20a. and 'I2'Ia are mounted'in the, bifurcated portion of socket member I8 by pins I22 and I23 in the'same way as pawls 20- and 2 I. Figure 6 shows the bifurcated pawls I20 and I2I in section. l g In place of the hand holes 29 and 30 as shown in Figure 2 rings I33 may be secured to the back edge of frame I'0I to provide handle means.

Another type of machine is shown in Figure 5. Ratchet, pawls, handle socket, and handle are omitted. Inplace of the two ratchet wheels of the device of Figures 4 and 6,two wheels or drum heads 224 and 225 are provided. Each wheel 224 and 225- is fitted to the square part of shaft 209-. At intervals about the periphery of wheels 224 and 225 are bar receiving sockets 226-. A bar may be inserted intoa socket 226 toact as a lever, turning the wheel assembly in the'mannerof a Windlass. The reference characters in Figure 5 are like those in preceding figures save that-200 is added thereto. r A In the form of the'device shown in Figure 5, a tail piece 205 extends backwardly from the frame 1. A bar 208 may be inserted through 2 a suitable aperture near the end of the tail piece 205'. The bar 208 may be withdrawn for inser- 7 tion intoone of the holes 226 to turn the Wheel assembly. -When in place in the tail piece, the

bar 208 adds convenience in the'transportation of the device: 7 V r g The operation of the device isas follows. The frame I (IOI or 201) is placed on a tie which is to be removed, with the toothed'wheels II (III or 2H) bearing on the top of the tie and with arms 2 (I02 or 202) and 3 (I03 or 203) at the sides of the tie 4. (See Figure 2.)

to a limited extent. presses against the end of the notch. The nose I is over the base but seldom'presses against the side of the web of the rail. The device pivots about a point'in the top of the base of the rail.

Handle 3 I in socket I0 is then worked upwardly. It is retracted downwardly after each up stroke.

Where desired, modifications may be made in the shape of the shaft 9 or in the shape-or number of the toothed wheels or ratchets without departing from the invention. V or What is claimed as new. and is desired to be secured by LettersPatent of theUnited States'is:

1.. A tie puller comprising a plurality of discs, tie penetrating means for engaging the top'face The exten-' sion 2a is slipped under the rail 34. Notchli' admits of the insertion of the base of the rail 34 The edge of the base seldom 'Through the medium of the pawls, ratchet wheel and shaft, the toothed wheels II are rotated so ,-that the teeth Ila dig into the tie 4. As the s 20 by means of the of a tie mounted on said discs-,-and*means for moving said discs and move the tie.

2. A puller for extracting a tie from beneath a rail, comprising a plurality of discs, penetrating means for engaging, the top face of such tie mounted on said discs, means for coaction with the base of-such rail, and means for moving said 1 a rail, comprising a frame having arms adapted to coact with the mascot such rail, a toothed wheel for engaging the top' face of a tie and journalled between said ,arms,.a drum head having a plurality of sockets in the periphery thereof and rigidly associated with said toothed wheel,

tie penetrating means to and a lever. insertable in the sockets for moving 1 the said drum head to rotate said toothed wheel, said toothed wheel when rotated pressing said arms against the base of the rail and'pulling the tie from beneath the rail. V

5. A puller for extracting a tie from beneath a rail, comprising a frame having arms, each arm having a portion'adapted to fit beneath the rail, and a portion adapted to press upon the top of the base of the rail, a toothed wheel for engaging the top face of the tie and journalled in said frame between said arms, a ratchet wheel 'associated with said toothed wheel, a handle pivoted to said frame, and a pawl pivoted to said handle and coacting with said ratchet wheel, movement of said handle rotating said ratchet wheel and said toothed wheel, and said toothed wheelad-- vancing said frame to a position against the rail and pulling the tie from beneath the rail.

6. A tie puller comprising a frame, a toothed wheel journalled in said frame for engaging the top face of the tie, two ratchet wheels associated with said toothed wheel, a bifurcated pawl each side of which is adapted to coact with one ratchet wheel, and means for moving said pawl to rotate said ratchet wheels and said toothed wheel.

7. For use in a tie puller operable to engage the top face of a tie, a wheel having teeth about the periphery thereof, said wheel being intended for rotation in one direction, said teeth having tapered sides and ends all being slanted forward in the direction of rotation, and each tooth having a flat front face slanted forward from inside to outside with respect to such rotation and formmg a cutting edge at the outside and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the Wheel.

ERNEST C. NEAL. 

